Well tool



Aug. 15, 1950 I J. P. SMITH WELL TOOL s-sheet-s-sheet 1 Filed June 29,1945 JOPL/NG F: smry INVENTOR.

Aug. 15, 1950 Filed June 29, 1945 J. P. SMITH WELL TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2F is INVENTOR.

' VaPu/va Ran/TH Aug 15, 1950- Filed ,June 29, 1945 .I P. SMITH WELLToot;

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOPLING E. SMITH 1N VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 15 1956 1 UNITED STATES WELL TOOL 7 .Jopling P. Smith,Houston, 'ixl, assigns, by 'mesne assignments, to John HJMc'Car'veII 2Claims. (cl; ite-12')" "This invention relates to new and-luse'ful timaprovementsina .well tool, .andin particular in a tool which maybe:lowered into .a well to a .desired position and .desi-nably ,set .or.positioned gthenein, and thereafter released .for resetting --and-/orremoval .from the .well. The invention isuof .particular :utility .for,.and is disclosed hereinqaS compr g an expansibie packer :to :form :apack-off between concentric ,:tubular.;strings .in

.a well. 7 v y 7 .The primary :object of the inventionis to providea-wellgtool that .may be izun into :a well upon an operatingistringwhich can beqmanipulated :at

the mouth of the well to .set and thereafter rellease (the tool so thatoperations within the well,

conditioning of the well tor production thereof,

can be accmp1ished.-

.Another object is to provide-a toolof the 131258 described inwhichmanipulative rotationgof ithie :ppehating string is unidirectional.Threads which area-adapted .to become disconnected when rotating theoperating string. are usually .right hand threads and it is icontemplated that the 51300.1 of the present invention shallheso constructedthat right hand rotation of the operating string can be utilized ;foroperating :DHIIPOSBSgiU being understood :of course; thatthe device may:heso constructed that left hand rotationumay be :uti-

lized to serve any specific :punpose.

. A further object :is to provide :a device which ,is simple andinexpensive to construct and main- .tain and onein which the componentparts :are

;few in number and are of rugged construction; It is :alsoan: object to,providea tool having telescopic elements including a .by-pass assemblyso that resistance to movement of the device .within a well from thefluids therein is minimized.

A sti-ll further 'o'bjectxis to :provide :a tool including asliporanchor assembly :and- 1116,8115 for setting or releasing suchassembly withtfacility and in a manner to 'obviateahanging up of the 001within-the well.

A more specific object is to provide a tool having a drag or spring:cage assembly withrivhich selectivecngagement may be ha'd toeifect=desired interconnection or disconnection ofparts of-the device sothat setting .or releasing'of the tool may heeffected. The foregoingobjects are primary objects which, together with other objects andadvantages of the invention, will be more fully apparent from thefollowing description considcream connection with the accompanyingadraw-e "ingsin which: H

"fFigs land 2 are .successiile'elevationalviews 2 partly in section ofone embodiment of the invention showing the relative position of palftswhen: the device is being lowered to a predetermined operating positionWithin awell; H Fig. 3 isan elevational view in section of amodifiediorm of the lower portion of the device shown in Fig. 2; g I.Figs. and 5 are similar to Figs. land 2 are sectional elevationsshowing the tool set within a well casingj g Fig. 6 is anelevationalview of the lower portion of the device showing the drivingconnecuse", between the operating string and the remaied'ersf thedevicewhereby the parts of the device are interconnected by rotation triflestring; I g

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar to vFigs. 1 and 2;;b1ut

show a modified form of the interconnecting and releasing portion ofth'd evi ce Figs."9 and 10 Show the relative position pi parts of theidevice of Figs. 7 and 8 when the device"is 'set within a well casing. ILike "references are used to identify the respective like parts of thedifferent embodiments shown in the drawings. Referring generally to thedrawings the device of the inventionincludes atubin'g or operatingstring l comprising abypas's' section 2 interposed between the coupling'3 andthe .lift collar 4. Entending downwardly from said collar .is a'section 5 having actuating bins 6 below which thestring extendsdownwardly at 1 to suchlevel as is deemed-desirable or necessary fortheme-boss for which the tool is used'. t t I A packer and she assembly.IU surrounds the string '1", and the lower oifi'dii of thisTi'ssurro'un'd'ed by a springer friction cage ass m-1Iol'y'3i]whichecdper'atesimm alatch collar 53 thatoperatio'n' of thetool may be eiiecteclby desired manipulation (if thestring I at thernoltlth of the we'll. v v 3 The upper end 'of tha'ss'enibly itcomprises a head ll having an internar'shoulder 1'2 engageable by thelift collar to support the assembly upon the stfihg-=xxihen-goiiig intoor coming out of the well. The by-pass section 2 passes duewardly fromwithin thehead H andhas openings 3 therein so' that fluids' may enter"into or exit: from the string through such :openings while thedevicelis ibeing movedwithin a well. When the device is: set'within awell; as will more fully appear, and the string .1 iiszlowered until thecoupling 3- lies proximateithe upper end of the head H, the'by-passiopenings-ilzil are within the assembly 30 asfbest seen in.iEig; 4 .and'lhence are closed except for the passage through thestring I. Leakage through the head II about the string is prevented bymeans of packing I4 in the head.

The packer sleeve I5 is secured to the head II and has packing rings I6thereon. This sleeve has a flange H at is lower end to cooperate with acomplementary flange I8 on the upper end of the expander I9 which hastapered surfaces 20 at its lower end for engagement with the innersurfaces 2I of a plurality of slips 22 having casing engaging teeth 23.The lower ends of these slips are attached to the upper end of slipcollar 24 by suitable means such as the T-slot connection 25 whereby theslips may move radially during the setting or releasing operation of thetool.

It seems apparent that when the collar 24 is permitted to rise relativeto the expander I9, the slips 22 will ride upon the surfaces 20, andhence the slips will move outwardly to the position indicated in Figs. 5and 10. The assembly I0, whether such assembly comprise a packer asshown or other device to be set in a well, may thus be anchored and theoperating string I may be lowered therein until the collar 3 engages theupper end of the head II. Obviously further lowering of the string Imoves the head II and its associated sleeve I5 downwardly whereby therings I6 are expanded as indicated in Figs. 4 and 9 and hence formsealing engagement with the surrounding casing 26.

Reference is now made to the construction whereby the latch collar 40and the slip collar 24 may be interconnected or released byunidirectional rotation of the string I at the mouth of the well.Inasmuch as the operating string such as that shown at I comprises aplurality of sections of tubing interconnected by means of right handthreads, as above indicated, it is desirable that only right handrotation of the operating string be effected and the construction asshown provides for such rotation both for actuating the tool, forsetting when the desired level is reached, and for releasing the toolwhen it is to be withdrawn from the well or to be reset at a. differentlevel.

The spring or friction cage assembly 30 comprises a plurality of bowsprings 3I secured in a suitable manner upon the cage 32 and extendinglongitudinally thereof. This assembly is floatably mounted upon thecollar 24, its limit of movement being determined by flanges 21 and 28.By virtue of its contact with the surrounding casing the assemblyassumes lagging position as the tool is moved within a well bore. Theupperend of the cage has an ear 33'engageable with a complementary car34 on the collar 24 when the latter is rotated in a clockwise or righthand direction as viewed from above. Also the lower end of the cage 32has an ear 35 engageable by the ear 33 on the latch collar 40 when thelatch collar is rotated in a clockwise direction relative to the springcage.

The latch collar 40 has one or more slots 4I therein each including ahorizontal portion 42 and a vertical portion 43 which receives the pins44 projecting radially from the member 24 near its lower'end. The latchcollar 40 also has internal recesses 45 which receive the drive pins 6when the pins 44 are in the portion 42 of the slot 4I. While a generallyL-shaped slot is provided by the structure just described it is to beunderstood that any suitable means may be provided for interconnectingand releasing the component parts of the assembly. This is illustratedin the further lifting unseats the packer.

outwardly through the openings I3. In this manner the fluids areeffectively by-passed.

' When the device has reached the level at which the slips 22 are to beset, whether the slips are to be used for expanding a packer within thewell or for other purposes, the string I is rotated in a clockwisedirection whereby the collar 40 is driven by pins 6 until the pins 44enter the lower ends of the vertical portions 43 of the slots 4|. Thestring I is then moved downwardly and first closes the by-pass throughthe openings I3 after which the collar 3 engages the upper end of thehead I I. Continued movement of the string causes the mandrel I9 to movedownwardly relative to the slips 22 which together with the collar 24remain stationary due to resistance of the cage 38 with the surroundingcasing 26. During this movement the pins 44 move upwardly withintheportion 43 of the slots 4I. At the same time the rings I6 are expandedand thus the tool assumes the set position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If the device is to be released for resetting at a different level orfor removal from the well, the string I is thereafter lifted and thelift collar 4 engages the shoulder I2 on the head ll whereby Thereafterthe expander I9 is lifted so that the slips 22 are released. At the sametime of course the pins 6 have risen to a position of engagement withthe projections 46. Likewise, the collar 40 has been lifted with thestring until the pins 44 are opposite the portion 42 of the L-shapedslot 4|. Any additional lifting of the string I moves the string andassociated elements upwardly relative to the spring or friction cage 30whereby the ears 33 and 34 are separated while the ears 35 and 36 aremoved into engageable positions.

The operating string I is then rotated in a clockwise direction wherebythe pins 6 engage the projections 46 at the lower end of the slip collar24 and the entire assembly I0 is rotated by the string I. Initiation ofsuch rotation also causes the pins 44 to enter the portion 42 of theslot II, the collar 40 being restrained from rotation by interengagementof the ears 35 and 35 on the spring cage and the collar respectively. Inthis manner the device is released from its set position as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 and returned to itsinitial position as shown in Figs. 1and 2 so that it may be reset in a different level or withdrawn from thewell for reuse.

The operation of the device as shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that justdescribed in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. In this modifiedconstruction, however, the latch collar 40 is provided with inwardlyextending pins 44' which enter inverted L-shaped slots 4I in the lowerend of the slip collar 24.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive the modified latchcollar 40" is constructed to fit slidably upon the operating stringbelow the driving pins 6. This collar has outwardly extending pins 50which are adapted to enter slots formed in the lower end of the slipcollar 24. The upper end of the collar 40:" is also provided withrecesses forming surfaces 52 adapted to be engaged by the drive pins 6whereby the collar may be forced to rotate with the operating string.Thereabove the slip collar 24 is likewise provided with recesses formingsurfaces 53 engageable by the drive pins 6 in a manner to be explained.Is is also to be noted that the pins 50 extend outwardly beyond theperiphery of the lower end of the collar 24 sothat such pins arelikewise engageable with the car 35 at the lower end of the spring cage30.

In the operation of this embodiment the parts are in the relativepositions shown in Figs. 7 and 8 when the device is to be lowered withina well, the pins 50 being engaged within the slots 5| at the lower endof the collar 24. When the device is to be set the operating string l isrotated in a clockwise direction whereby the collar 40" is rotated andthe pins 50 are withdrawn from within the slots 5|. Thereafter loweringof the operating string moves the parts to the relative positions shownin Fig. 10 whereby the slips 22 are set and the packer rings l6 areexpanded within the casing 25 as shown in Fig. 9.

When the device is to be released for resetting or for removal from thewell the operating string is lifted until the driving pins 6 move to aposition to engage the surfaces 53 at the lower end of the slip collar24. At the same time the latch collar 40" is lifted until the pins 50engage the cars 35 at the lower end of the spring cage whereby the latchcollar is restrained from rotation. Continued rotation of the operatingstring thus causes the slip collar 24 to move relative to the pins 50 sothat such pins again become latched withinthe slots 5| and the device isagain interconnected in inoperative position.

Broadly the invention comprehends a well tool which may be lowered intoa well upon an operating string, which may be manipulated at the mouthof the well to set and to thereafter release the tool by manipulation ofthe string, any rotation of the string in such operation beingunidirectional.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil well tool comprising, an operating string having shoulderthereon, a packer and slip assembly surrounding the string and having acomplementary internal shoulder so that the assembly is normallysuspended on the string, said assembly including a slip collar extendingdownwardly about the string, a friction cage slidably surrounding saidslip collar, a latch collar surrounding the operating string below thefriction cage, a pin and slot connection between the 6 slip and latchcollars, there being spaced opposed recesses on said collars, andactuating pins on the string normally engaged within the recesses in thelatch collar to hold the slip collar against u-pward movement while thetool is lowered into a Well bore.

2. An oil well tool comprising, an operating string having a shoulderthereon, a packer and slip assembly surrounding the string and having acomplementary internal shoulder so that the assembly is normallysuspended on the string, said assembly including a slip collar extendingdownwardly about the string, a friction cage slidably surrounding saidslip collar, a latch collar surrounding said slip collar, ears on saidcollars above and below said friction cage, complementary ears on thefriction cage, a pin and slot connection between the slip and latchcollars, there being spaced opposed recesses on said collars, andactuating pins on the string normally engaged within the recesses in thelatch collar to hold the slip collar against upward movement while thetool is being lowered.

3. An oil well tool comprising, an operating string having a shoulderthereon, a packer and slip assembly surrounding the string and having acomplementary internal shoulder so that the assembly is normallysuspended on the string, said assembly including a slip collar extendingdownwardly about the string, a friction cage slidably surrounding saidslip collar, an outwardly extending pin on said slip collar, a latchcollar surrounding the slip collar and having an L-slot into which saidpin projects, there being vertically spaced recesses in said collars,actuating pins on said string normally engaged within the recesses inthe latch collar to hold the slip collar against upward movement whilethe tool is lowered into a well bore, said friction cage slidablysurrounding the slip collar above the latch collar and having ears onthe ends thereof, and complementary opposed ears on the slip and latchcollars for selective interengagement with the ears on the friction cageso that the pin can be released from the latching portion of the L-slotand thereafter reengaged by unidirectional rotation of the operatingstring.

J OPLIN G P. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,803,841 Crowell May 5, 19312,352,423 Church June 27, 1944

